Madhab Raj Ghimire*
Whether we get railway network or not but it’s almost confirm that we are going to get railway department soon. Government of Nepal is working on to establish department under Ministry of Physical Planning and Works. This move can be justified until completion Railway infrastructure level for the time being. After completion of the infrastructure, the department can be shifted smoothly for operation to under independent regulatory authority regime.
Despite lack of electric supply in Nepal, recent proposal by Indian and Nepalese consulting companies along with Nepal Planning Commission are trying to accelerate the proposal through recent annual budget. The budget has allocated fund for formation of department as well as going forward to make preparation of DPR for electric Rail network. The ambitious proposal of Mechi-Mahakali Electric rail which is inter-connected to capital Kathmandu and another hilly city of Pokhara.
Expending large lump of budget (Rs. 810 Million) for this project might not be easy task to finalize the issue of financial scarcity to built largest Railway network in Nepal. And conducting feasibility study to Metro train within Kathmandu valley has given some hopes for locomotors to have better mass transportation system in future. For this again, to provide fund for infrastructure building definitely is not an easy task. However, it is already learnt that cabinet officials are not keen to work on this highly ambitious project due to lack of fund to support Railway construction.
Albeit, we have been experiencing failed state owned structure Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway network which is occupying 22 km in total length. To compare with global scenario, we have just sample of product for the Railway network. The network only relies on the government allocated budget and obliged to keep staffs to resolving their every day problem of living. This miniature service is also bearing unfortunate legacy of total loss by every year and corruption within it. In this condition, Nepalese investors would not be assured to invest in such sector, which is already running in loss scale. Unless, government or consultants would assure to profitability of business, there would be no hope of high investment on Electric Rail.
The financial assessment of newly proposed electric Rail network can be drawn to discussion from different stake holders such as donor agencies facilitated by soft loan from WB or ADB or through public private partnership (PPP) modality and complete private investment (even though, which is almost out casted in Nepal) could be other option for the infrastructure building. Apart from these aspects, will power of government with strong leadership is very important to complete such types of projects. The fact is, due to financial weakness of government, it could go through per regional base buildings to built infrastructures level.
To succeed or completion of project, we need to establish effective and capable authority to regulate this highly influencing financial project of Railway network. Therefore, we need regulatory authority which can be evolved through railway department in the starting. Before operation of network, slot of infrastructure and independent infrastructure manager needs to introduce within regulation. But, after completion of the project, it is oblivious that sector needs independent authority to regulate Railway to obtain network efficiency through competitive policy.
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